Transmission apparatus and method, reception apparatus and method, and transmission and reception system

ABSTRACT

A content reception apparatus, for receiving non-real-time (NRT) content, includes circuitry that receives a digital television broadcast signal including a digital television program, the NRT content, and filtering criteria related to the NRT content and outputs the digital television program for display to a user. The circuitry receives question information relating to a preference, demographic, or interest of the user and generates user answer information based on the question information received. Further, the circuitry compares the user answer information and the filtering criteria, and filters the NRT content based on the comparison.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/026,551, filed Sep. 13, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/071,560, filed Mar. 25, 2011, now patented asU.S. Pat. No. 8,892,636, which is a non-provisional application of andclaims the benefit of priority from U.S. Application No. 61/378,211,filed Aug. 30, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a transmission apparatus and method, areception apparatus and method, and a transmission and reception system,and more particularly to a transmission apparatus and method, areception apparatus and method, and a transmission and reception systemby which a content can be acquired in response to metadata.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, together with digitalization of televisionbroadcasting, the amount of information which can be broadcast at a timehas increased dramatically, and various data are broadcastsimultaneously together with a television program or content to beviewed on the real time basis.

Further, as a communication path for a content, a content downloadservice which selectively uses the television broadcasting describedabove and the Internet which allows high speed downloading of data hasbeen proposed and is disclosed, for example, in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2010-21988.

Incidentally, in general content download services, a filteringattribute also called filtering index, filtering metadata or the likeset by a server on the provider side which provides or distributescontents such as the content provider side or the service provider sideis added as metadata to a content. Consequently, a client which receivesor acquires the content can carry out filtering of the content.

The filtering attribute is set as a value of an element of metadataselected from within a metadata set prescribed by a standardizationorganization such as ATSC (Advanced Television Standard Committee) orARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses).

In particular, a content to which filtering attributes that “viewingtarget” is selected as an element of metadata and that “years of lifebetween ten and nineteen” is set as a value regarding the element of themetadata are applied is provided to clients which carry out filtering soas to acquire a “content for a viewer whose “viewing target is viewerswhose years of life are between ten and nineteen.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, it is not available to apply metadata or a filtering attributewhich is not included in a metadata set prescribed by a standardizationorganization to a content.

For example, even if the provider side wants to distribute a contentwhose “watching target is viewers of years of life between ten andnineteen” to viewers who “are interested in job-hunting,” if a metadataset prescribed by a standardization organization does not include“whether or not a viewer is interested in job-hunting” as an element ofmetadata, then the provider side cannot apply a filtering attribute that“interested in job-hunting” is set as an element of metadata to thecontent.

Accordingly, the provider side cannot distribute a content to which amatter which satisfies current needs such as, for example, to take atrend into consideration and in which a viewer is interested is appliedas metadata.

Further, in such a case as described above, the client side cannot carryout filtering so that a content which satisfies the needs at the time isobtained.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a transmission apparatus andmethod, a reception apparatus and method, and a transmission andreception system by which a content which satisfies needs at the timecan be acquired.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a transmission apparatus for distributing a content to aclient, including question generation means for generating questioninformation representative of a question regarding liking of a user ofthe client, and transmission means for transmitting the questioninformation and provider side answer information in the form of a bitstring representative of an answer set by a provider which provides thecontent to the question regarding the liking of the user to the client.

The transmission apparatus may further include metadata generation meansfor generating metadata including the provider side answer informationas metadata of the content corresponding to the answer set by theprovider, the transmission means transmitting the metadata to theclient.

The transmission apparatus further includes query generation means forgenerating a query representative of a combination of answers set by theprovider, the transmission means transmitting the query to the client.

The provider side answer information can be distinguished into commonanswer information representative of an answer to a question which doesnot depend upon the provider and unique answer informationrepresentative of an answer to a question which is unique to theprovider.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided also a transmission method for a transmission apparatus fordistributing a content to a client, including the steps of generatingquestion information representative of a question regarding liking of auser of the client, and transmitting the question information andprovider side answer information representative of an answer set by aprovider which provides the content to the question regarding the likingof the user to the client.

In the transmission apparatus and the transmission method, questioninformation representative of a question regarding liking of a user ofthe client is generated. Then, the generated question information andprovider side answer information representative of an answer set by aprovider which provides the content to the question regarding the likingof the user are transmitted to the client.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a reception apparatus for acquiring a content distributed froma server, including answer generation means for generating, in responseto question information representative of a question regarding liking ofa user and transmitted from the server to the reception apparatus, userside answer information representative of an answer of the user to thequestion, and matching means for carrying out matching between the userside answer information and provider side answer informationrepresentative of an answer set by a provider which provides the contentto the question and transmitted from the server to the receptionapparatus to determine acquisition of the content distributed from theserver.

The matching means may carry out the matching to determine acquisitionof the content corresponding to metadata including the provider sideanswer information.

The matching means can carry out the matching based on the user sideanswer information and a query transmitted from the server andrepresentative of a combination of answers set by the provider todetermine acquisition of the content distributed from the server.

In the reception apparatus, the answer generation means may generate aquery representative of a combination of answers of the user to thequestion regarding the liking of the user, and the matching means cancarry out the matching based on the query and the provide side answerinformation transmitted from the server to determine acquisition of thecontent distributed from the server.

The user side answer information and the provider side information canbe distinguished into common answer information representative of ananswer to a question which does not depend upon the provider and uniqueanswer information representative of an answer to a question which isunique to the provider.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided also a reception method for a reception apparatus for acquiringa content distributed from a server, including the steps of generating,in response to question information representative of a questionregarding liking of a user and transmitted from the server to thereception apparatus, user side answer information representative of ananswer of the user to the question, and carrying out matching betweenthe user side answer information and provider side answer informationrepresentative of an answer set by a provider which provides the contentto the question and transmitted from the server to the receptionapparatus to determine acquisition of the content distributed from theserver.

In the reception apparatus and the reception method, in response toquestion information representative of a question regarding liking of auser and transmitted from the server to the reception apparatus, userside answer information representative of an answer of the user to thequestion is generated. Then, matching between the generated user sideanswer information and provider side answer information representativeof an answer set by a provider which provides the content to thequestion and transmitted from the server is carried out to determineacquisition of the content distributed from the server.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a transmission and reception system, including a transmissionapparatus adapted to distribute a content, and a reception apparatusadapted to acquire the content distributed from the transmissionapparatus, the transmission apparatus including question generationmeans for generating question information representative of a questionregarding liking of a user of the reception apparatus, and transmissionmeans for transmitting the question information and provider side answerinformation representative of an answer set by a provider which providesthe content to the question regarding the liking of the user to thereception apparatus, the reception apparatus including answer generationmeans for generating user side answer information representative of ananswer of the user to the question in response to the questioninformation transmitted from the transmission apparatus, and matchingmeans for carrying out matching between the user side answer informationand the provider side answer information transmitted from thetransmission apparatus to determine acquisition of the contentdistributed from the transmission apparatus.

In the transmission and reception system, question informationrepresentative of a question regarding liking of a user of the receptionapparatus is generated. Then, the question information and provider sideanswer information representative of an answer set by a provider whichprovides the content to the question regarding the liking of the user istransmitted to the reception apparatus. User side answer informationrepresentative of an answer of the user to the question is generated inresponse to the question information transmitted to the receptionapparatus from the transmission apparatus. Then, matching between thegenerated user side answer information and the provider side answerinformation transmitted from the transmission apparatus is carried outto determine acquisition of the content distributed from thetransmission apparatus.

With the transmission apparatus and method, reception apparatus andmethod, and transmission and reception system, it becomes possible toacquire a content which satisfies needs at the time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of abroadcasting system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof a server;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of theserver;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functionalconfiguration of a client;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating content transmission and receptionprocesses;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of syntax of the XML schema;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a PDI-Q;

FIGS. 8 to 12 are schematic views showing different examples of screenimage display in interaction with a user;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example of a PDI-A;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views illustrating different examples of a providerside PDI-A;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing another example of a functionalconfiguration of the server;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating different content transmission andreception processes in the broadcasting system which includes the serverof FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing another example of a functionalconfiguration of the client;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating content transmission and receptionprocesses in the broadcasting system of FIG. 1 which includes the clientof FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an example of a broadcasting systemfor broadcasting by an ATSC-M/H method to which the present invention isapplied;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a protocol stack of a signalof a carrier transmitted by the ATSC-M/H method;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a data configuration of ServiceGuide;

FIG. 23 is a view illustrating a configuration of a Service fragment;

FIG. 24 is a view illustrating a configuration of a Schedule fragment;

FIG. 25 is a view illustrating a configuration of a Content fragment;

FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a configuration of an Interactivity Datafragment;

FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a protocol stack of a signalof a carrier transmitted by NRT broadcasting;

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a data structure of TVCT,PAT, PMT and DSM-CC Addressable Section;

FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a data structure of SMT,NRT-IT and FLUTE FDT; and

FIG. 30 is a view illustrating an example of syntax of a PDI descriptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be notedthat the description is carried out in the following order.

Example of the Configuration of the Broadcasting System

FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of a broadcasting systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

The broadcasting system 10 of FIG. 1 is configured from a server 11provided on the provider side such as a broadcasting company whichbroadcasts or provides a digital television program (hereinafterreferred to suitably as content) and a client terminal (hereinafterreferred to simply as client) 12 installed in a home of a user whoenjoys broadcast contents. It is to be noted that, while the client 12is installed in a plurality of user homes, the client 12 can beconfigured also as a portable terminal apparatus such as a portabletelephone set or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

In the broadcasting system 10, the server 11 transmits a contenttogether with content metadata regarding the content as a signal of adigital broadcasting wave to the client 12. The client 12 carries outfiltering of the content based on the content metadata transmittedthereto together with the content so that only the content desired bythe user is reproduced or accumulated. It is to be noted that thecontent metadata may not be transmitted together with the content butmay be transmitted before the content is transmitted.

Example of the Hardware Configuration of the Server

FIG. 2 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the server 11.Referring to FIG. 2, the server 11 is configured, for example, using acomputer as a base.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 executes various processes inaccordance with a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 or aprogram loaded from a storage section 28 into a RAM (Random AccessMemory) 23. Data necessary for executing various processes by the CPU 21and so forth are suitably stored into the RAM 23.

The CPU 21, ROM 22 and RAM 23 are connected to each other through a bus24. Also an input/output interface 25 is connected to the bus 24.

To the input/output interface 25, an inputting section 26 configuredfrom a keyboard, a mouse and so forth, an outputting section 27configured from a display unit such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) unit or the like, a speaker and so forth, thestorage section 28 configured from a hard disk and so forth and acommunication section 29 configured from a modem, a terminal adapter andso forth are connected. The communication section 29 communicates withan external apparatus through a network not shown. Further, a programmay be acquired through the communication section 29 and stored into thestorage section 28.

Further, a drive unit 30 is connected to the input/output interface 25as occasion demands and a removable medium 31 such as a magnetic disk,an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk or a semiconductor memory issuitably loaded into to the input/output interface 25. A computerprogram read out from such a removable medium as just described isinstalled into the storage section 28 as occasion demands.

It is to be noted that, though not shown, the hardware of the client 12is configured similarly to the server 11 as shown in FIG. 2.

Example of the Functional Configuration of the Server

Next, an example of a functional configuration of the server 11 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 3.

The server 11 is configured from a PDI-Q generator 41, a transmissionsection 42, a PDI-A generator 43, a metadata distributor 44, a contentaccumulation section 45 and a content distributor 46.

The PDI-Q generator 41 generates a PDI-Q (Preference Demographic andInterest-Question) which is information representative of questionsregarding the liking of the user or viewer of the client 12. Then, thePDI-Q generator 41 transmits the generated PDI-Q to the client 12through the transmission section 42 and supplies the PDI-Q to the PDI-Agenerator 43.

The transmission section 42 transmits various data supplied thereto fromthe PDI-Q generator 41, metadata distributor 44 and content distributor46 to the client 12.

The PDI-A generator 43 generates, based on the PDI-Q from the PDI-Qgenerator 41, a PDI-A (Preference Demographic and Interest-Answer) whichis information representative of an answer set on the provider side tothe questions regarding the liking of the user of the client 12described above and corresponds to the PDI-Q. The PDI-A generator 43supplies the generated PDI-A to the metadata distributor 44.

The metadata distributor 44 specifies or refers to a contentcorresponding to the answer set on the provider side from among contentsaccumulated in the content accumulation section 45 based on the PDI-Afrom the PDI-A generator 43. The metadata distributor 44 generatescontent metadata including the PDI-A as content metadata of thespecified content and transmits the generated data to the client 12through the transmission section 42.

The content accumulation section 45 accumulates various contents to bedistributed to the client 12.

The content distributor 46 acquires the content specified by themetadata distributor 44 from among the contents accumulated in thecontent accumulation section 45 and transmits the acquired content tothe client 12 through the transmission section 42.

Example of the Functional Configuration of the Client

Next, an example of a functional configuration of the client 12 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 4.

The client 12 is configured from a reception section 51, a PDI-Agenerator 52, a PDI-A storage section 53, a content filter 54, a contentreproduction section 55 and a content accumulation section 56.

The reception section 51 receives various data transmitted from theserver 11 and supplies the received data to the PDI-A generator 52 orthe content filter 54.

The PDI-A generator 52 generates, based on the PDI-Q transmitted fromthe server 11, a PDI-A which indicates answers of the user to questionsregarding the liking of the user of the client 12 and corresponds to thePDI-Q to supply to the PDI-A storage section 53.

The PDI-A storage section 53 stores the PDI-A from the PDI-A generator52. The PDI-A stored in the PDI-A storage section 53 is suitably readout to the content filter 54.

The content filter 54 reads out the PDI-A from the PDI-A storage section53 and carries out filtering of the content based on the read out PDI-Aand a PDI-A included in content metadata of the content received fromthe server 11. The content filter 54 supplies the filtered content tothe content reproduction section 55 or the content accumulation section56 in response to a result of the filtering.

The content reproduction section 55 reproduces the content from thecontent filter 54. Further, the content reproduction section 55 acquiresthe content from the content accumulation section 56 and reproduces theacquired content.

The content accumulation section 56 accumulates or records the contentfrom the content filter 54.

Example of the Transmission and Reception Processes of a Content

Next, transmission and reception processes of a content in thebroadcasting system 10 are described with reference to a flow chart ofFIG. 5. In the content transmission and reception processes of thebroadcasting system 10, a content is distributed by executing a contentdistribution process by the server 11 and is acquired by executing acontent acquisition process by the client 12.

On the case where, on the provider side such as a broadcasting company,for example, a sponsor of a content to be broadcast or distributed orthe broadcasting company itself requests distribution of a content for aviewer having a specific liking or a specific attribute, the PDI-Qgenerator 41 of the server 11 generates, at step S11, a PDI-Q forinquiring about what liking or attribute the user has to the viewer,that is, to the user of the client 12, in response to operation of thestaff on the provider side.

Example of the Syntax of the XML Schema

Here, an example of the syntax of the XML (Extensible Markup Language)schema for configuring a PDI-Q and a PDI-A is described with referenceto FIG. 6.

In FIG. 6, the first row indicates a declaration or a definition foridentifying the PDI-Q, and the second row indicates a name of the entirequestions defined as the PDI-Q and a declaration of the type.

The third to twelfth rows indicate a name and a declaration of the typeregarding the individual questions declared in the second row. Inparticular, the type “IntegerAnswerType” of a question defined by thename “QIA” in the fifth row indicates that the question requests aninteger value type answer, and the type “BooleanAnswerType” of thequestion defined by the name “QBA” in the sixth row indicates that thequestion requests a logical value type answer. Further, the type“SelectionAnswerType” of the question defined by the name “QSA” in theseventh row indicates that the question requests an answer selectiontype answer, and the type “TextAnswerType” of the question defined bythe name “QTA” in the eighth row indicates that the question requests acharacter column type answer. Further, the type “AnyAnswerType” of thequestion defined by the name “QAA” in the ninth row indicates that thequestion does not the type of an answer thereto.

The thirteenth to 44th rows indicate declarations of elements of thequestions defined by the names “QIA,” “QBA,” “QSA” and “QTA” from amongthe questions declared as described above. Particularly, id elementsindicated in the 15th, 24th, 31st and 40th rows indicate IDs(Identifiers) for identifying items of the questions, and are defined asgiven below as a first format:

“common:[category:]question-ID”

In the first format, the term “common” indicates that the questionidentified by the id element is a question commonly definedindependently of the provider, and the term “category” indicates acategory of the question and the term “question-ID” indicates anidentifier of the question. It is to be noted that the term “category”may be represented, as occasion demands, in a hierarchical neststructure like:

“common:[category1:category2:category3: . . . ]question-ID”

Further, the id element is defined as given below as a second format:

“providerName:[category:]question-ID”

In the second format, the term “providerName” indicates a name of theprovider by which the question identified by the id element is set. Itis to be noted that the term “category” and the term “question-ID” aresimilar to those in the first format.

In this manner, the questions defined as the PDI-Q are distinguished,depending upon the id element, into those questions independent of theprovider which provides contents and common to providers and thosequestions defined uniquely by the provider which provides the content.

A question independent of the provider which provide a content and ananswer to the question are hereinafter referred to suitably as providercommon filtering parameter, and a question defined uniquely by theprovider which provides a content and an answer to the question arehereinafter referred to suitably as provider unique filtering parameter.

As described above, since the provider common filtering parameter isdefined commonly by providers without depending upon individualproviders, generally the provider common filtering parameter is providedby a vender, that is, by a maker or the like, of the client 12.Accordingly, although the PDI-Q generator 41 in the server 11 can bemade so as to be provided by the provider side, it may otherwise be madeso as to be provided by the vender of the client 12.

It is to be noted that the syntax which configures the PDI-Q and thePDI-A is not limited to that of the example illustrated in FIG. 6.

Example of the PDI-Q

Next, an example of the PDI-Q configured based on the syntax of FIG. 6is described with reference to FIG. 7.

In FIG. 7, the term “transactional” in the first row is a value whichindicates whether or not a recording/updating process is to be rolledback. In particular, when the questions, that is, the question group,defined by the PDI-Q are updated in the client 12 to which the questionsare transmitted, all of the substance of the items of the PDI-Q may notbe recorded/updated because of some accident such as disk writing erroror interruption of a processing by increase of the processing loadmidway of processing for recording/updating the substance of the itemsof the PDI-Q into a storage region not shown of the client 12. If all ofthe substance of the items of the PDI-Q is not recorded/updated, thenthe recording/updating process may be invalidated, that is, a rollbackprocess may be carried out, going back to a state just before therecording/updating of the substance of the items of the PDI-Q. Thus,whether such rollback process should be carried out is represented by“transactional.” In the case where “transactional” is “true,” the PDI-Qis rolled back.

The second to fifth rows define a question for requesting a logic valuetype answer, and <id>Common:111</id> in the third row indicates an idelement of the question and <q>Are you currently employed?</q> in thefourth row indicates the question itself.

The sixth to ninth rows define a question for requesting an integervalue type answer, and <id>Common:222</id> in the seventh row indicatesan id element of the question and <q>What is the age of the oldestmember of the household who watches television?</q> in the eighth rowindicates the question itself. It is to be noted thatminInclusive=“10”maxInclusive=“100” in the sixth row indicates that ananswer to the request is restricted to an integer value from 10 or moreto 100 or less.

The tenth to 17th rows define a question for requesting an answerselection type answer, and <id>ProviderA:123</id> in the eleventh rowindicates an id element of the question and <q>In which of the followingsports are you most interested? (Multiple selection allowed)</q>indicates the question itself. Further, <a>Baseball</a> in the 13th row,<a>Basketball</a> in the 14th row, <a>Soccer</a> in the 15th row and<a>Hockey</a> in the 16th row individually indicate choices for ananswer to the question. It is to be noted that minChoice=“1”maxChoice=“3” in the tenth row indicates that the number of answers tothe question is restricted from one to three from among the choices.

The eighteenth to 24th rows define a question for requesting an answerselection type answer, and <id>ProviderA:ProgramX:123</id> in the 19throw indicates an id element of the question and <q>Do you enjoy campingand outdoor recreation? (Only one selection)</q> in the 20th rowindicates the question itself. Further, <a>Never</a> in the 21st row,<a>Occasionally</a> in the 22nd row and <a>Frequently</a> in the 23rdrow individually indicate the choices of an answer to the question. Itis to be noted that maxChoice=“1” in the 18th row indicates that thenumber of answers to the question is restricted to one.

In this manner, in the PDI-Q, also candidates for the answer to thequestion and restriction conditions for the answer are defined dependingupon the type of the question.

The 25th to 28th rows define a question for requesting a charactercolumn type answer, and <id>ProviderA:321</id> indicates an id elementof the question in the 26th row and <q>Who's products are you mostinterested in recently?</q> in the 27th row indicates the questionitself.

In the following description, the questions defined by the PDI-Q in FIG.7 are referred to as questions of id elements. In particular, thequestion defined in the second to fifth rows is distinguished as aquestion of “Common:111” and the question defined in the sixth to ninthrows is distinguished as a question of “Common:222.” Further, thequestion defined in the tenth to 17th rows is distinguished as aquestion of “ProviderA:123,” and the question defined in the 18th to24th rows is distinguished as a question of “ProviderA:ProgramX:123.”Furthermore, the question defined in the 25th to 28th rows isdistinguished as a question of “ProviderA:321.”

At this time, the question of “Common:111” and the question of“Common:222” are distinguished as the provider common filteringparameter, and the question of “ProviderA:123,” question of“ProviderA:ProgramX:123” and question of “ProviderA:321” aredistinguished as the provider unique filtering parameter. For example,the question of “Common:111” indicates a question set commonly toproviders and having the identifier “111,” and the question of“ProviderA:ProgramX:123” indicates a question set by the provider of“Provider A” and whose category or program ID is “ProgramX” andidentifier is “123.”

Referring back to the flow chart in FIG. 5, at step S12, the PDI-Qgenerator 41 of the server 11 transmits the generated PDI-Q to theclient 12 through the transmission section 42 and supplies the PDI-Q tothe PDI-A generator 43.

At step S21, the reception section 51 of the client 12 receives thePDI-Q transmitted from the server 11 and supplies the received PDI-Q tothe PDI-A generator 52.

It is to be noted that the PDI-Q is received by the client 12, forexample, every time broadcasting or transmission is carried out after apredetermined interval of time from the broadcasting station as theprovider in which the server 11 is installed. Or, the PDI-Q may bereceived by the client 12 when the channel is set to that of thebroadcasting station in which the server 11 is installed.

At step S22, the PDI-A generator 52 of the client 12 generates a PDI-Ato the questions defined by the PDI-Q received by the reception section51. In particular, if the PDI-Q from the server 11 is received, then thePDI-A generator 52 causes a display section not shown to display ascreen image corresponding to each question defined by the PDI-Q andcauses the user or viewer of the client 12 to input or select an answerto the question so that a PDI-A which indicates the answer to thequestion is generated. In particular, the PDI-A generator 52 interactswith the user to generate the PDI-A which indicates the answer to thequestion defined by the PDI-Q.

Example of the Screen Image Display in Communication with the User bythe PDI-A Generator

Here, an example of screen image display in communication with the userby the PDI-A generator 52 is described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12.It is to be noted that it is assumed here that the client 12 receivesthe PDI-Q described with reference to FIG. 7, and screen imagescorresponding to the question group defined by the received PDI-Q aresuccessively displayed on the display section not shown of the client12.

FIG. 8 shows an example of screen image display corresponding to thequestion of “Common:111” from among the questions defined by the PDI-Qdescribed hereinabove with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, the questionof “Are you currently employed?” indicated in the fourth row in FIG. 7is displayed in a question presentation region 61. Further, the messageof “choose one” for urging the user to input an answer to the question,a selection button 62-1 for urging the user to select “Yes” as theanswer to the question and another selection button 62-2 for urging theuser to select “No” as the answer to the question are displayed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of screen image display corresponding to thequestion of “Common:222” from among the questions defined by the PDI-Qdescribed hereinabove with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 9, the questionof “What is the age of the oldest member of the household who watchestelevision?” indicated in the eighth row in FIG. 7 is displayed in aquestion presentation region 71. Further, a message “enter age” forurging the user to input an answer to the question and an answerinputting region 72 for urging the user to input an integer value as theanswer to the question are displayed.

FIG. 10 shows an example of screen image display corresponding to thequestion of “ProviderA:123” from among the questions defined by thePDI-Q described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 10, thequestion of “In which of the following sports are you most interested?(Multiple selection allowed)” indicated in the twelfth row in FIG. 7 isdisplayed in a question presentation region 81. Further, the message of“choose one to three answers” for urging the user to input an answer tothe question and selection buttons 82-1 to 82-4 for urging the user toselect the choices of “Baseball,” “Basketball,” “Soccer” and “Hockey” asthe answer to the question are displayed.

FIG. 11 shows an example of screen image display corresponding to thequestion of “ProviderA:ProgramX:123” from among the questions defined bythe PDI-Q described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 11,the question of “Do you enjoy camping and outdoor recreation? (Only oneselection)” indicated in the 20th row in FIG. 7 is displayed in aquestion presentation region 91. Further, the message of “choose one”for urging the user to input an answer to the question and selectionbuttons 92-1 to 92-3 for urging the user to select the choices of“Never,” “Occasionally” and “Frequently” as the answer to the questionare displayed.

FIG. 12 shows an example of screen image display corresponding to thequestion of “ProviderA:321” from among the questions defined by thePDI-Q described with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 12, the question of“Who's products are you most interested in recently?” indicated in the27th row in FIG. 7 is displayed in a question presentation region 101.Further, the message of “write anything” for urging the user to input ananswer to the question and an answer inputting region 102 for urging theuser to input a character string as the answer to the question aredisplayed.

In this manner, the PDI-A generator 52 urges the user to input or selectan answer to the questions defined by the PDI-Q in accordance with thescreen image display described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12 so thatthe PDI-A corresponding to the PDI-Q is generated.

It is to be noted that the screen image display described with referenceto FIGS. 8 to 12 may be carried out just after the PDI-Q is received ormay be carried out when, after the PDI-Q is received and retained intothe storage section not shown, an instruction to display a settingscreen image is issued by the user.

Example of the PDI-A

Here, an example of the PDI-A generated by the PDI-A generator 52 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 13. The PDI-A shown in FIG. 13 isgenerated based on selection or inputting of answers by the user to thescreen image display described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12.

In particular, the second to fifth rows indicate an answer of the userto the question presented by the screen image display describedhereinabove with reference to FIG. 8. In particular, <id>Common:111</id>in the third row indicates an id element of the question presented bythe screen image display described with reference to FIG. 8, and<a>true</a> in the fourth row indicates that the selection button 62-1for the answer of “Yes” in the displaying screen image in FIG. 8 isselected as the answer to the question by the user.

The sixth to ninth rows indicate an answer of the user to the questionpresented by the screen image display described with reference to FIG.3. In particular, <id>Common:222</id> in the seventh row indicates an idelement of the question presented by the screen image display in FIG. 9,and <a>34</a> in the eighth row indicates that an integer value “34” isinputted as the answer to the question by the user to the answerinputting region 72 in the screen image display in FIG. 9.

The tenth to 15th rows indicate an answer of the user to the questionpresented by the screen image display described hereinabove withreference to FIG. 10. In particular, <id>ProviderA:123</id> in theeleventh row indicates an id element of the question presented by thescreen image display in FIG. 10, and <a>Baseball</a> in the 12th row,<a>Soccer</a> in the 13th row and <a>Hockey</a> in the 14th row indicatethat the selection buttons 82-1, 82-3 and 82-4 are selected as theanswer to the question by the user in the screen display in FIG. 10,respectively.

The 16th to 19th rows indicate an answer of the user to the questionpresented by the screen image display described hereinabove withreference to FIG. 11. In particular, <id>ProviderA:ProgramX:123</id> inthe 17th row indicates an id element of the question presented by thescreen image display in FIG. 11, and <a>Occasionally</a> in the 18th rowindicates that the selection button 92-2 is selected as the answer tothe question by the user in the screen image display in FIG. 11.

The 20th to 23rd rows indicate an answer of the user to the questionpresented by the screen image display described hereinabove withreference to FIG. 12. In particular, <id>ProviderA:321</id> on the 21strow indicates the id element of the question presented by the screenimage display of FIG. 12. Meanwhile, <a>Somy</a> on the 22nd rowindicates that “Somy” is inputted as a character string to the answerinputting region 102 on the screen image display of FIG. 12 by the useras an answer to the question.

The PDI-A generator 52 supplies the PDI-A generated in this manner tothe PDI-A storage section 53 so as to be stored. The PDI-A stored in thePDI-A storage section 53 is used when the content distributed from theserver 11 conforms to the liking of the user of the client 12 ashereinafter described.

Referring back to the flow chart of FIG. 5, at step S13, the PDI-Agenerator 43 of the server 11 generates a PDI-A to the questions definedin the PDI-Q from the PDI-Q generator 41 and supplies the generatedPDI-A to the metadata distributor 44. More particularly, if a PDI-Q isgenerated by an operation of the staff of the broadcasting station orprovider side, then the PDI-A generator 43 causes the display sectionnot shown to display such screen images which correspond to thequestions defined in the PDI-Q as described hereinabove with referenceto FIGS. 8 to 12. Then, the PDI-A generator 43 causes the staff of thebroadcasting station to input or select answers to the questions togenerate a PDI-A representative of the answers. At this time, the staffof the broadcasting station would input or select answers correspondingto the content to be distributed as answers to the questions defined inthe PDI-Q. In other words, the PDI-A generated by the PDI-A generator 43represents information, that is, answers, generated by the provider sidetaking the liking of the user or viewer of the client 12 intoconsideration, for allowing the viewer to enjoy a content to bedistributed later.

At step S14, the metadata distributor 44 specifies or refers to acontent corresponding to the PDI-A from among the contents accumulatedin the content accumulation section 45 based on the PDI-A from the PDI-Agenerator 43. The content specified here may be a content with regard towhich the similarity between the PDI-A from the PDI-A generator 43 andthe content metadata applied in advance to the accumulated content ishigher than a predetermined value or may be a content selected inadvance as a content desirable to be viewed by the user by the staff ofthe broadcasting station. It is to be noted that the content specifiedby the metadata distributor 44 is acquired from the content accumulationsection 45 by the content distributor 46.

At step S15, the metadata distributor 44 newly generates, based on thecontent metadata applied in advance to the content specified at step S15and the PDI-A from the PDI-A generator 43, content metadata includingthe PDI-A.

At step S16, the transmission section 42 distributes the contentacquired by the content distributor 46 together with the contentmetadata generated by the metadata distributor 44. At this time, as thecontent metadata, content metadata prescribed by a standardizationorganization may be transmitted in addition to the content metadatagenerated by the metadata distributor 44.

In this manner, a content whose content metadata includes a PDI-Arepresentative of answers intended by the provider side as the answersto the questions defined in the PDI-Q, or in other words, a contentwhich conforms to the liking of the user and whose viewing is expectedby the provider side, is distributed.

It is to be noted that the processes at steps S13 to S16 need not beexecuted immediately after the process at step S12, but may be executedbefore a PDI-A is generated and stored in the client 12 owned by eachuser.

Further, while, at step S16, the content is distributed together withthe content metadata, the content may not be distributed together withthe content metadata, but after the content metadata including the PDI-Ais transmitted in advance to the client 12, the content corresponding tothe content metadata may be distributed.

After the content and the content metadata are distributed from theserver 11 in this manner, at step S23, the reception section 51 of theclient 12 receives the content and the content metadata distributed fromthe server 11 and supplies them to the content filter 54.

At step S24, the content filter 54 carries out matching between thePDI-A stored in the PDI-A storage section 53 and the PDI-A included inthe content metadata from the server 11. It is to be noted that, inorder to distinguish the PDI-A stored in the PDI-A storage section 53and the PDI-A included in the content metadata from the server 11 fromeach other, the former is hereinafter referred to as user side PDI-A andthe latter is hereinafter referred to as provider side PDI-A.

Example of the Matching Process by the Content Filter

Here, it is assumed that the PDI-A described hereinabove with referenceto FIG. 13 is generated and stored as the user side PDI-A and the PDI-Aillustrated in FIG. 14 is transmitted as the provider side PDI-A fromthe server 11.

The provider side PDI-A illustrated in FIG. 14 has a basically similarconfiguration to that of the user side PDI-A illustrated in FIG. 13, andtherefore, overlapping description of the provider side PDI-A is omittedherein to avoid redundancy. However, the provider side PDI-A illustratedin FIG. 14 indicates that “false” is selected as an answer to thequestion of “Common:111” and “Baseball” is selected as an answer to thequestion of “ProviderA:123” and besides “Never” is selected as an answerto the question of “ProviderA:ProgramX:123.”

At this time, the content filter 54 compares the user side PDI-A and theprovider side PDI-A with each other. Then, if the user side PDI-A andthe provider side PDI-A exhibit coincidence with regard the answers toat least one question, then the content filter 54 decides that the userside PDI-A and the provider side PDI-A match with each other. However,if the user side PDI-A and the provider side PDI-A exhibit nocoincidence with regard to the answers to any question, then the contentfilter 54 decides that the user side PDI-A and the provider side PDI-Ado not match with each other. In the present case, the answer to thequestion of “ProviderA:123” in the user side PDI-A illustrated in FIG.13 and the answer to the question of “ProviderA:123” in the providerside PDI-A illustrated in FIG. 14 coincide with each other in that bothof them include “Baseball.” Therefore, it is decided that the user sidePDI-A and the provider side PDI-A match with each other.

Then, it is assumed that a PDI-A illustrated in FIG. 15 is transmittedas the provider side PDI-A from the server 11.

The provider side PDI-A illustrated in FIG. 15 indicates that“Basketball” is selected as an answer to the question of “ProviderA:123”and “Never” is selected as an answer to the question of “ProviderA:123.”

In this instance, since the answers to the questions in the user sidePDI-A illustrated in FIG. 13 and the answers to the questions in theprovider side PDI-A illustrated in FIG. 15 do not coincide with eachother at all, it is decided that the user side PDI-A and the providerside PDI-A do not match with each other.

The content filter 54 carries out the matching process between the userside PDI-A and the provider side PDI-A in this manner.

At step S25, the content filter 54 decides whether or not the user sidePDI-A and the provider side PDI-A match with each other. If it isdecided at step S25 that the user side PDI-A and the provider side PDI-Amatch with each other, then the content filter 54 decides that thecontent distributed from the server 11 conforms to the liking of theuser or viewer of the client 12. Thus, the content filter 54 suppliesthe content to the content reproduction section 55 or the contentaccumulation section 56, and then the processing advances to step S26.

If the content distributed from the server 11 is supplied from thecontent filter 54 to the content reproduction section 55, then thecontent reproduction section 55 reproduces the content at step S26. Onthe other hand, if the content distributed from the server 11 issupplied from the content filter 54 to the content accumulation section56, then the content accumulation section 56 accumulates or records thecontent at step S26. The accumulated content is suitably supplied to andreproduced by the content reproduction section 55 in response to anoperation instruction of the user.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S25 that the user side PDI-Aand the provider side PDI-A do not match with each other, then thecontent filter 54 decides that the content distributed from the server11 does not conform to the liking of the user or viewer of the client12. Then, the content filter 54 abandons or deletes the content, and theprocessing is ended.

According to the process described above, in the broadcasting system, onthe provider side, the server generates a PDI-Q representative ofquestions regarding the liking of the user, and the PDI-Q is transmittedto the client terminal. Further, a provider side PDI-A representative ofanswers set by the provider side to the PDI-Q is distributed as metadataof the corresponding content. Consequently, as content metadata, contentmetadata in accordance with needs at the time other than contentmetadata prescribed by a standardization organization can be applied toa content. On the other hand, on the user side, the client terminalgenerates a user side PDI-A representative of answers of the user to thePDI-Q from the server. Then, matching between the generated user sidePDI-A and the provider side PDI-A from the server is carried out todetermine whether or not the content distributed from the server shouldbe acquired. Consequently, a content can be filtered with contentmetadata which satisfies needs at the time other than content metadataprescribed by a standardization organization. Accordingly, a contentwhich satisfies current needs can be acquired.

It is to be noted that, while, in the foregoing description, the client12 carries out matching between the PDI-As on the real time basis upondistribution of a content from the server 11, all contents may beaccumulated upon distribution of such contents from the server 11. Inthis instance, matching between the PDI-As may be carried out on thebackground of the processing such that a content corresponding to amatched PDI-A, that is, a matched provider side PDI-A, from among theaccumulated contents is reproduced or a content which corresponds to anyPDI-A which does not match is deleted.

Further, in the foregoing description, the content filter 54 compares auser side PDI-A and a provider side PDI-A represented as instances, andmatching between the user side PDI-A and the provider side PDI-A iscarried out depending upon whether or not answers to at least onequestion coincide with each other. However, the user side PDI-A and theprovider side PDI-A may be compared with each other by representing oneof the user side PDI-A and the provider side PDI-A as a query forevaluating the PDI-A.

In the following, a configuration for comparing a user side PDI-A and aprovider side PDI-A with each other by representing one of the user sidePDI-A and the provider side PDI-A as a query is described.

Example 1 of the Matching Process by an Query for Evaluating a PDI-A

First, a configuration for representing a provider side PDI-A as a queryand comparing a user side PDI-A and the provider side PDI-A with eachother is described.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a functional configuration of the server 11which represents a provider side PDI-A as a query.

Referring to FIG. 16, the server 11 shown includes a PDI-Q generator 41,a transmission section 42, a content accumulation section 45, a contentdistributor 46, a PDI-A query generator 111 and a metadata distributor112.

It is to be noted that, in the server 11 of FIG. 16, like elementshaving like functions to those of the elements provided in the server 11of FIG. 3 are denoted by like terms and like reference characters andoverlapping description of them is suitably omitted herein to avoidredundancy.

In particular, the server 11 of FIG. 16 is different from the server 11of FIG. 3 in that it includes the PDI-A query generator 111 and themetadata distributor 112 in place of the PDI-A generator 43 and themetadata distributor 44.

The PDI-A query generator 111 generates, based on a PDI-Q from the PDI-Qgenerator 41, a PDI-A corresponding to the PDI-Q, that is, a providerside PDI-A, applies the generated provider side PDI-A to a predeterminedconditional statement to generate a PDI-A query and supplies the PDI-Aquery to the metadata distributor 112.

The metadata distributor 112 specifies or refers to, based on the PDI-Aquery from the PDI-A query generator 111, a content corresponding to thePDI-A query from among contents accumulated in the content accumulationsection 45. The metadata distributor 112 generates content metadataincluding the PDI-A query as content metadata of the specified contentand transmits the generated content metadata to the client 12 throughthe transmission section 42.

In the client 12 in the present example, the content filter 54 shown inFIG. 4 reads out a PDI-A, that is, a user side PDI-A, from the PDI-Astorage section 53, and filters the content based on the read out userside PDI-A and the PDI-A query included in the content metadatatransmitted from the server 11 to the client 12. Except this, the client12 is same as the client 12 of FIG. 4, and therefore, overlappingdescription of the same is omitted herein to avoid redundancy.

Now, content transmission and reception processes of the broadcastingsystem 10 which includes the server 11 of FIG. 16 are described withreference to a flow chart of FIG. 17.

It is to be noted that processes at steps S31, S32, S36, S41 to S43, S45and S46 of the flow chart of FIG. 17 are basically similar to theprocesses at steps S11, S12, S16, S21 to S23, S25 and S26 of the flowchart of FIG. 5, respectively. Therefore, overlapping description ofthem is omitted herein to avoid redundancy.

In particular, at step S33, the PDI-A query generator 111 of the server11 generates a provider side PDI-A to questions defined by the PDI-Qfrom the PDI-Q generator 41 and applies the generated provider sidePDI-A to a predetermined conditional statement to generate a PDI-Aquery. Then, the PDI-A query generator 111 supplies the generated PDI-Aquery to the metadata distributor 112. In particular, for example, if aPDI-Q is generated by an operation of staff of a broadcasting station,that is, the provider side, then the PDI-A query generator 111 causesthe display section not shown to successively display such screen imagescorresponding to the questions defined by the PDI-Q as describedhereinabove with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12. Then, the PDI-A querygenerator 111 causes the staff of the broadcasting station to input orselect answers to the questions and causes the staff to determine acombination of the answers, that is, a filtering condition, to generatea PDI-A query representative of the combination of the answers. At thistime, the staff of the broadcasting station would input or selectanswers corresponding to a content to be distributed as answers to thequestions defined in the PDI-Q and then determine a combination of theanswers. In other words, the PDI-A query generated by the PDI-A querygenerator 111 represents information, that is, a combination of answers,generated by the provider side taking a liking of a user or viewer ofthe client 12 into consideration, for allowing the viewer to enjoy acontent to be distributed later.

At step S34, the metadata distributor 112 specifies or refers to, basedon the PDI-A query from the PDI-A query generator 111, a contentcorresponding to the PDI-A query from among the contents accumulated inthe content accumulation section 45. The content specified here may be acontent with regard to which the similarity between the PDI-A query fromthe PDI-A query generator 111 and the content metadata applied inadvance to the accumulated content is higher than a predetermined valueor may be a content selected in advance as a content desirable to beenjoyed by the user by the staff of the broadcasting station. It is tobe noted that the content specified by the metadata distributor 112 isacquired from the content accumulation section 45 by the contentdistributor 46.

At step S35, the metadata distributor 112 newly generates, based on thecontent metadata applied in advance to the content specified at step S34and the PDI-A query from the PDI-A query generator 111, content metadataincluding the PDI-A query.

Then, at step S44, the content filter 54 of the client 12 carries outmatching of the PDI-A stored in the PDI-A storage section 53 based onthe PDI-A query included in the content metadata from the server 11.

Here, it is assumed that the PDI-A described hereinabove with referenceto FIG. 13 is generated and stored as the user side PDI-A and a PDI-Aquery indicated below has been transmitted from, the server 11.

“//QBA[id=‘Common:111’ and a=‘true’] and //QSA[id=‘ProviderA:123’ anda=‘Baseball’]”

The PDI-A query given above indicates that the user side PDI-A evaluateswhether “true” is selected as the answer to the question of “Common:111”and “Baseball” is selected as an answer to the question of“ProviderA:123.”

At this time, the content filter 54 evaluates the user side PDI-A basedon the PDI-A query. Then, if the user side PDI-A satisfies the PDI-Aquery, that is, is true, then the content filter 54 decides that theuser side PDI-A and the PDI-A query match with each other, but if thePDI-A query is not satisfied, that is, is false, then the content filter54 decides that the user side PDI-A and the PDI-A query do not matchwith each other. In this instance, in the user side PDI-A illustrated inFIG. 13, since “true” is selected as an answer to the question of“Common:111” and besides “Baseball” is selected as an answer to thequestion of “ProviderA:123,” it is decided that the user side PDI-A andthe PDI-A query match with each other.

Since a more complicated filtering condition is represented by a PDI-Aquery set by the provider side in this manner, the provider side canallow a user or viewer who is expected to view a content by the providerto acquire a content.

Example 2 of the Matching Process by a Query for Evaluating a PDI-A

Now, a configuration which represents a user side PDI-A as a query tocompare the user side PDI-A and a provider side PDI-A with each other isdescribed.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a functional configuration of the client 12which represents a user side PDI-A as a query.

The client 12 of FIG. 18 includes a reception section 51, a contentfilter 54, a content reproduction section 55, a content accumulationsection 56, a PDI-A query generator 131, and a PDI-A query storagesection 132.

It is to be noted that, in the client 12 of FIG. 18, like elementshaving like functions to those of the elements provided in the client 12of FIG. 4 are denoted by like terms and like reference characters andoverlapping description of them is suitably omitted herein to avoidredundancy.

In particular, the client 12 of FIG. 18 is different from the client 12of FIG. 4 in that it includes the PDI-A query generator 131 and thePDI-A query storage section 132 in place of the PDI-A generator 52 andthe PDI-A storage section 53.

The PDI-A query generator 131 generates, based on a PDI-Q transmittedthereto from the server 11, a PDI-A, that is, a user side PDI-A,corresponding to the PDI-Q and representative of answers of a user toquestions about the liking of the user of the client 12. Then, the PDI-Aquery generator 131 applies the generated user side PDI-A to apredetermined conditional statement to generate a PDI-A query andsupplies the generated PDI-A query to the PDI-A query storage section132.

The PDI-A query storage section 132 stores the PDI-A query from thePDI-A query generator 131. The PDI-A query stored in the PDI-A querystorage section 132 is read out suitably into the content filter 54.

It is to be noted that the content filter 54 of FIG. 18 reads out thePDI-A query from the PDI-A storage section 53 and filters the contentbased on the read out PDI-A query and the provider side PDI-A includedin the content metadata transmitted thereto from the server 11.

The server 11 in the present example is same as the server 11 shown inFIG. 3, and therefore, overlapping description thereof is omitted hereinto avoid redundancy.

Now, content transmission and reception processes of the broadcastingsystem 10 which includes the client 12 of FIG. 18 are described withreference to a flow chart of FIG. 19.

It is to be noted that processes at steps S51 to S61, S63, S65 and S66of the flow chart of FIG. 19 are basically similar to the processes atsteps S11 to S21, S23, S25 and S26, respectively, and therefore,overlapping description of them is omitted herein to avoid redundancy.

In particular, at step S62, the PDI-A query generator 131 of the client12 generates a user side PDI-A to questions defined in a PDI-Q receivedby the reception section 51 and applies the generated user side PDI-A toa predetermined conditional statement to generate a PDI-A query. Inparticular, for example, when a PDI-Q is received from a broadcastingstation, the PDI-A query generator 131 causes the display section notshown to display such screen images which correspond to the questiondefined in the PDI-Q as described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 8to 12. Then, the PDI-A query generator 131 causes the user or viewer ofthe client 12 to input or select answers to the questions and causes theuser to determine a combination or filtering condition of the answers togenerate a PDI-A query representative of the combination of the answers.In other words, the PDI-A query generator 131 interacts with the user togenerate a PDI-A query representative of the combination of answers tothe questions defined by the PDI-Q.

Then at step S64, the content filter 54 carries out matching of theprovider side PDI-A included in the content metadata from the server 11based on the PDI-A query stored in the PDI-A query storage section 132.

Here, it is assumed that the PDI-A described hereinabove with referenceto FIG. 14 is transmitted as the provider side PDI-A from the server 11and a PDI-A query given below is generated and stored.

“//QBA[id=‘Common:111’ and a=‘false’] and //QSA[id=‘ProviderA:123’ anda=‘Baseball’]”

The PDI-A query given above indicates that the provider side PDI-Aevaluates whether “false” is selected as the answer to the question of“Common:111” and “Baseball” is selected as an answer to the question of“ProviderA:123.”

At this time, the content filter 54 evaluates the provider side PDI-Abased on the PDI-A query. Then, if the provider side PDI-A satisfies thePDI-A query, that is, is true, then the content filter 54 decides thatthe provider side PDI-A and the PDI-A query match with each other, butif the PDI-A query is not satisfied, that is, is false, then the contentfilter 54 decides that the provider side PDI-A and the PDI-A query donot match with each other. In this instance, in the provider side PDI-Aillustrated in FIG. 14, since “false” is selected as an answer to thequestion of “Common:111” and besides “Baseball” is selected as an answerto the question of “ProviderA:123,” it is decided that the provider sidePDI-A and the PDI-A query match with each other.

Since a more complicated filtering condition is represented by a PDI-Aquery set by the user side in this manner, it is possible to allow theuser side to acquire a content expected thereby with a higher degree ofcertainty.

Incidentally, although the present invention can be applied to abroadcasting system which broadcasts a digital television program, as anexample, the present invention can be applied to a broadcasting systemwhich broadcasts in accordance with the ATSC-M/H (Mobile/Handheld)method which is an expanded method of the ATSC (Advanced TelevisionStandard Committee) method to mobile communication.

Application Example to a Broadcasting System which Broadcasts by theATSC-M/H Method

FIG. 20 shows an example of a configuration of a broadcasting systemwhich broadcasts digital television programs of the ATSC method and theATSC-M/H method in related arts.

The broadcasting system of FIG. 20 corresponds to the server 11 of thebroadcasting system 10 of FIG. 1 and includes an ATSC Legacy System 151,an ATSC M/H System 152, an M/H Framing 153 and an RF/Transmission System154.

The ATSC Legacy System 151 signals a broadcasting stream in the form ofan MPEG2-TS (Moving Picture Experts Group 2 Transport Stream) inaccordance with the ATSC method in related arts. The ATSC M/H System 152signals a broadcasting stream of IP packets in accordance with theATSC-M/H method. Control Data 152 a of the ATSC M/H System 152 iscontrol information regarding a broadcasting stream (A/V (Audio/Video)content) to be signaled from the ATSC M/H System 152.

Broadcasting streams described above are multiplexed by the M/H Framing153 and transmitted as a carrier by the RF/Transmission System 154. Itis to be noted that description of details of functions of the blocksmentioned is omitted herein because they are described in the ATSCstandards.

FIG. 21 illustrates a protocol stack of a signal of a broadcasting wavetransmitted in accordance with the ATSC-M/H method.

Although detailed description is omitted, one of the highest hierarchiesis “Service Guide” and prescribes metadata of a content to be providedin accordance with the ATSC-M/H method. The Control Data 152 aillustrated in FIG. 20 is transmitted as content metadata (hereinafterreferred to merely as Service Guide) prescribed by “Service Guide.” Inparticular, in the broadcasting system of FIG. 20, a PDI-A, that is, aprovider side PDI-A, a PDI-A query or a PDI-Q transmitted from theserver 11 to the client 12 in the broadcasting system 10 describedhereinabove is placed in and transmitted together with the ServiceGuide.

It is to be noted that a lower hierarchy “FLUTE” adjacent to the“Service Guide” and a lower hierarchy “ALC” adjacent to the “FLUTE” arehierarchies for transferring the Service Guide packetized in accordancewith the UDP/IP (User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol).

As specifications of the Service Guide, a data configuration illustratedin FIG. 22 is prescribed by the OMA (Open Mobile Alliance). It is to benoted that description of details of the configuration of the ServiceGuide illustrated in FIG. 22 is omitted herein because it is prescribedin “‘Service Guide for Mobile Broadcast Services,’ Open Mobile Alliance,OMA-TSBCAST_ServiceGuide-V1_0, Candidate Version 1.0.”

The PDI-A, that is, the provider side PDI-A, or the PDI-A query, isplaced into at least one of a “Service” fragment, a “Schedule” fragmentand a “Content” fragment among components of the Service Guideillustrated in FIG. 22.

The “Service” fragment is metadata including control informationregarding the substance of a channel service, and FIG. 23 illustratesdetails of a configuration of the “Service” fragment. A PDI-A or a PDI-Aquery is placed into a “PrivateExt” element prescribed on the loweststage of the “Service” fragment illustrated in FIG. 23 by newly adding a“PDI-A” element to the “PrivateExt” element. More particularly, forexample, the “PDI-A” element is represented by a character string as<xs:element name=“PDI-A” type=“xs:string”xmlns:xs=“http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLschema”/> in accordance with the XMLschema and is then encoded.

The “Schedule” fragment is metadata including control informationregarding a distribution schedule of a content, that is, a digitaltelevision program, and FIG. 24 illustrates details of a configurationof the “Schedule” fragment. A PDI-A or a PDI-A query is placed into a“PrivateExt” element prescribed on the lowest stage of the “Schedule”fragment illustrated in FIG. 24 by newly adding a “PDI-A” element to the“PrivateExt” element. More particularly, for example, the “PDI-A”element is represented by a character string as <xs:element name=“PDI-A”type=“xs:string” xmlns:xs=“http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLschema”/> inaccordance with the XML schema and is then encoded.

The “Content” fragment is metadata including control informationregarding the substance of a content, that is, a digital televisionprogram, and FIG. 25 illustrates details of a configuration of the“Content” fragment. A PDI-A or a PDI-A query is placed into a“PrivateExt” element prescribed on the lowest stage of the “Content”fragment illustrated in FIG. 25 by newly adding a “PDI-A” element to the“PrivateExt” element. More particularly, for example, the “PDI-A”element is represented by a character string as <xs:element name=“PDI-A”type=“xs:string” xmlns:xs=“http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLschema”/> inaccordance with the XML schema and is then encoded.

Meanwhile, the PDI-Q is placed into “Interactivity Data” from among thecomponents of the Service Guide illustrated in FIG. 22.

The “Interactivity Data” fragment is metadata regarding an applicationregarding a channel service or a content, that is, a digital televisionprogram, and FIG. 26 illustrates details of a configuration of the“Interactivity Data” fragment. A PDI-Q is placed into a “PrivateExt”element prescribed on the lowest stage of the “Interactivity Data”fragment illustrated in FIG. 26 by newly adding a “PDI-Q” element to the“PrivateExt” element. More particularly, the “PDI-Q” element isrepresented by a character string as <xs:element name=“PDI-Q”type=“xs:string” xmlns:xs=“http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLschema”/> inaccordance with the XML schema and is then encoded.

While the foregoing description relates to an example wherein thepresent invention is applied to a broadcasting system which broadcastsin accordance with the ATSC-M/H method, the present invention can beapplied also to a broadcasting system which carries out NRT (Non-RealTime) broadcasting in accordance with the ATSC system in related arts.Since the NRT broadcasting does not assume viewing of a content on thereal time basis, there is no necessity to reproduce a content insynchronism with the broadcasting time of the content broadcast as datain the form of a broadcasting signal.

Application Example to a Broadcasting System which Carries Out NRTBroadcasting

FIG. 27 illustrates a protocol stack of a signal of a broadcasting wavetransmitted by NRT broadcasting.

Although detailed description is omitted, the lowermost layer is“Physical Layer” and corresponds to a frequency band of a broadcastingwave. An upper layer adjacent to the “Physical Layer” is “MPEG2-TS” andcorresponds to a broadcasting stream broadcast as a broadcasting wave.

“ATSC-PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol)” and “MPEG2-PSI(Program Specific Information)” are illustrated as higher layersadjacent to “MPEG2-TS.” “ATSC-PSIP” is a layer having TVCT, and“MPEG2-PSI” is a layer having PAT (Program Association Table) and PMT(Program Map Table).

Meanwhile, “DSM-CC (Digital Storage Media Command and Control)Addressable Section” is indicated as an upper layer adjacent to“MPEG2-TS.” “DSM-CC Addressable Section” is used as an adaptation layerfor transferring an IP packet on MPEG2-TS of a broadcasting stream.

FIG. 28 illustrates a data structure of TVCT, PAT, PMT and DSM-CCAddressable Section. In TVCT, control information regarding abroadcasting stream to be broadcast by MPEG2-TS is described, and anMPEG2-TS by which DSM-CC Addressable Section for transferring an IPpacket stream (UDP/IP Packet) is specified based on TVCT.

Referring back to FIG. 27, “IP” is indicated as an upper layer adjacentto “DSM-CC Addressable Section,” and “UDP” is indicated as a furtherhigher layer adjacent to “IP.”

“Service Signaling Channel” and “FLUTE/ALC (File Delivery overUnidirectional Transport/Asynchronous Layered Coding Protocol)” areindicated as higher layers adjacent to “UDP.” “Service SignalingChannel” is a layer having SMT (Service Map Table) and NRT-IT (NRTInformation Table). “FLUTE Session” is indicated as a higher layeradjacent to “FLUTE/ALC.” “FLUTE Session” is a layer having FLUTE-FDT(File Delivery Table) and A/V File.

FIG. 29 illustrates a data structure of SMT, NRT-IT and FLUTE FDT. SMTdescribes metadata regarding a channel, and NRT-IT described metadataregarding a content. SMT and NRT-IT are transferred by “ServiceSignaling Channel” described hereinabove. FLUTE FDT describesinformation for identifying A/V files. It is to be noted that an A/Vfile is transferred by “FLUTE/ALC.”

Here, in a broadcasting system which carries out NRT broadcasting, aPDI-A, that is, a provider side PDI-A, a PDI-A query or a PDI-Q to betransmitted from the server 11 to the client 12 in the broadcastingsystem 10 described hereinabove is placed into and transmitted togetherwith SMT or NRT-IT.

In particular, in the case where filtering of a content to bedistributed is carried out in a unit of a channel or broadcastingstation, “PDI descriptor” into which the PDI-A, PDI-A query or PDI-Q isto be placed is prescribed newly in the descriptor loop (“Service #1” inFIG. 29) of the service level of SMT.

On the other hand, in the case where filtering of a content to bedistributed is carried out in a unit of a content, “PDI descriptor” intowhich the PDI-A, PDI-A query or PDI-Q is to be placed is prescribednewly in the descriptor loop (“Content #1” in FIG. 29) of the servicelevel of NRT-IT.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example of the syntax of “PDI descriptor.” InFIG. 30, each of descriptors to be described is defined together with abit number (No. of Bits) and a format (Format).

According to the syntax illustrated in FIG. 30, a PDI-A, a PDI-A queryor a PDI-Q is described in a descriptor of variable bits, that is, in“PDI_Q or PDI_A or PDI_A_Query.”

It is to be noted that the syntax of “PDI descriptor” is not limited tothe example illustrated in FIG. 30.

In this manner, the present invention can be applied also to abroadcasting system which carries out NRT broadcasting.

It is to be noted that naturally the present invention may be appliedalso to a broadcasting system which broadcasts in accordance with theATSC-M/H method described hereinabove and a broadcasting system whichcarries out NRT broadcasting in accordance with a method other than anexisting broadcasting system.

While the series of processes described above can be executed byhardware, it may otherwise be executed by software. In the case wherethe series of processes is executed by software, a program whichconstructs the software is installed from a program recording mediuminto a computer incorporated in hardware for exclusive use or, forexample, a personal computer for universal use which can execute variousfunctions by installing various programs.

The program recording medium in which a program which is installed in acomputer and can be placed into a state in which it can be executed bythe computer is stored is configured from, as seen in FIG. 2, aremovable medium 31 which is a package medium formed from a magneticdisk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (including a CD-ROM(Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and anoptical magnetic disc) or a semiconductor memory, the ROM 22 in whichthe program is stored temporarily or permanently or a hard disk or thelike which configures the storage section 28. Storage of the programinto the program recording medium is carried out through a wire orwireless communication medium such as a local area network, the Internetor a digital satellite broadcast through the communication section 29which is an interface of a router, a modem or the like as occasiondemands.

It is to be noted that, in the present specification, the steps whichdescribe the program may be but need not necessarily be processed in atime series in the order as described, and include processes which areexecuted in parallel or individually without being processed in a timeseries.

Further, in the present specification, the term “system” is used torepresent an entire apparatus composed of a plurality of apparatus.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purpose only,and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of a content reception apparatus forreceiving non-real-time (NRT) content, the method comprising: receivinga digital television broadcast signal including a digital televisionprogram, the NRT content, and filtering criteria related to the NRTcontent; outputting the digital television program for display to auser; receiving question information relating to a preference,demographic, or interest of the user, generating user answer informationbased on the question information received; comparing the user answerinformation and the filtering criteria; and filtering the NRT contentbased on the comparison.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein thequestion information is extracted from a plurality of digital televisionbroadcast signals provided by a plurality of service providers.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the question information is uniqueto a service provider providing the digital television broadcast signal.4. The method according to claim 1, comprising: outputting for displayto the user one or more questions based on the question information;receiving a signal indicative of a response by the user to the one ormore questions displayed; and generating the user answer information inaccordance with the signal received.
 5. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of acontent reception apparatus for receiving non-real-time (NRT) content,the method comprising: receiving a digital television broadcast signalincluding a digital television program, the NRT content, and filteringcriteria related to the NRT content; outputting the digital televisionprogram for display to a user; receiving question information relatingto a preference, demographic, or interest of the user, generating useranswer information based on the question information received; comparingthe user answer information and the filtering criteria; and filteringthe NRT content based on the comparison.
 6. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein thequestion information is extracted from a plurality of digital televisionbroadcast signals provided by a plurality of service providers.
 7. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 5,wherein the question information is unique to a service providerproviding the digital television broadcast signal.
 8. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein themethod comprises: outputting for display to the user one or morequestions based on the question information; receiving a signalindicative of a response by the user to the one or more questionsdisplayed; and generating the user answer information in accordance withthe signal received.
 9. A content reception apparatus for receivingnon-real-time (NRT) content, comprising: circuitry configured to:receive a digital television broadcast signal including a digitaltelevision program, the NRT content, and filtering criteria related tothe NRT content; output the digital television program for display to auser; receive question information relating to a preference,demographic, or interest of the user, generate user answer informationbased on the question information received; compare the user answerinformation and the filtering criteria; and filter the NRT content basedon the comparison.
 10. The content reception apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the circuitry is configured to extract the questioninformation from a plurality of digital television broadcast signalsprovided by a plurality of service providers.
 11. The content receptionapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the question information isunique to a service provider providing the digital television broadcastsignal.
 12. The content reception apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the circuitry is configured to: output for display to the userone or more questions based on the question information; receive asignal indicative of a response by the user to the one or more questionsdisplayed; and generate the user answer information in accordance withthe signal received.